Dimension Childcare

Inspection of Dimension Childcare HORNDEAN CAMPUS BARTON CROSS, HORNDEAN, HAMPSHIRE PO8 9PQ

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

Children are cared for at this nursery where the overarching aim is for children to be happy and make good progress. Staff create a friendly and warm atmosphere and greet children with an enthusiastic welcome each morning. They have high expectations of children and have worked together to devise a curriculum that focuses on children's interests and building on their knowledge. Because all the staff have a shared knowledge of the curriculum, they are able to support children regardless of the room in which they are based.

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The provision is good

Children are confident and demonstrate they feel safe and secure. Babies gain a sense of belonging as staff sing good morning to each child. Babies recognise themselves in photos and regularly snuggle up to the staff for cuddles. Toddlers also enjoy looking at photos of their families. They learn about each other's home lives and about their similarities and differences. Pre-school children confidently express their views and opinions to staff. When they have minor disagreements over resources, staff gently explain the importance of taking turns. All children enjoy regular opportunities to play outside. They have use of large-scale play equipment to develop their gross motor skills and enjoy taking part in yoga. Toddlers learn how to bend and stretch and pre-schoolers have fun with 'dinosaur' yoga.

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need to do better?

n Teamwork among staff is strong. They have a shared vision of what they want each child to learn before they move on to the next room or to school. The staff communicate well with each other, so that if one room feels a particular focus is needed, staff in other rooms will support this before children move up. Staff also form effective partnerships with local schools that children will attend. They help prepare children well for school, using activities such as the 'tray challenge' where children learn to carry items on a tray. Additional funding is used well to support the individual needs of children effectively. n The leadership team puts a high emphasis on staff well-being. Staff benefit from regular training, which continually supports their practice. Positive practice is acknowledged by way of a staff recognition board and staff say they feel happy and well supported. n Staff's support for children's communication and language development is

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need to do better?

strong, with simple sign language being introduced in the baby room. This is continued in the toddler room and then extended in the pre-school room, where staff also plan activities such as 'bucket time' to further promote children's language skills. On occasion, however, staff do not make the most of their interactions with children to extend children's learning. For example, when some children comment that they do not know how to build a castle, staff do not think

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need to do better?

29 August 2024 about how they could find out. n The curriculum for literacy is well sequenced throughout the nursery. For example, staff frequently read stories to children. Children have free access to a wide range of books and magazines alongside most activities and have regular opportunities to make marks using different materials. This helps to develop children's creativity and literacy from an early age. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents speak positively about how the staff really get to know their children. They are happy with the communication strategies that the staff and managers use to inform them about their children's learning and development. Parents are often invited to contribute to polls, where they are asked about their children's general life experiences, such as whether they go to the park or supermarket. This then helps the staff to plan activities accordingly and enhance children's cultural capital.

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need to do better?

n In general, outdoor play consists of stimulating learning experiences, which children eagerly engage with. All children have visits to the newly established allotment and each room has their own outdoor area. Babies enjoy a large grassy space and pre-school children grow their own tomato plants. Although the toddler room children can access the pre-school area at times, the natural environment is not as well considered in the toddler garden and some activities outside are not as well resourced as inside. n All children make good progress in their self-care skills. Staff support children in becoming independent. They are positive role models and teach children to use good manners, share and take turns.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n support staff to further develop their good interactions with children so that they make the most of opportunities to extend children's learning n consider how the outdoor curriculum for toddlers can be planned and sequenced more coherently to extend their learning further and support those who prefer to play in the natural environment.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 110237 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10350873 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 135 Number of children on roll 162

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Name of registered person

Horndean Technology College Governing Body

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reference number

Telephone number 023 92599753 Date of previous inspection 7 September 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Dimension Childcare registered in 2000. It is situated within the grounds of Horndean Technology College in Horndean, Hampshire. The provision operates a nursery and wraparound care. The nursery is open for 51 weeks of the year, Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm. The wraparound care is open term time only, Monday to Friday, from 7.30am until school drop off and from school pick up until 6pm. Children are transported to and from the local infant and junior schools via a walking bus. The wraparound care also operates a holiday club during the school holidays, from 7.30am to 6pm. There are 24 staff employed to work directly with the children, of whom 23 hold a relevant childcare qualification. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The nursery childcare coordinator joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the childcare manager. n The inspector spoke with members of the management team about the leadership and management of the setting. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

29 August 2024 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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